Acculturation and Self-Esteem Among African Immigrants in the United States

Overview: This study explored the impact of acculturation on self-esteem among African immigrants in the United States. Findings showed that identification with heritage culture was the strongest predictor of self-esteem among immigrants from African countries. We also found discrimination, material deprivation and ACEs to have negative effects on self-esteem.Proposal text: Background and

Purpose:
Despite being one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the United States, African immigrants remain underrepresented in social work research (Commodore-Mensah et al., 2019). Emerging studies identify mental health as a significant concern among this group (Saasa et al., 2021). Additionally, research highlights the role of acculturation on immigrant psychological outcomes (Jabbari, 2020), and the importance of self-esteem as a protective factor for mental health, especially in discriminatory social environments (Espinosa, 2021; Mereish et al., 2016). Studies indicate that compared to other immigrant groups, Black African immigrants experience increased risk for marginalization and discrimination (Batalova et al., 2016; Tesfai), factors shown to reduce self-esteem among immigrants (Panchanadeswaran & Dawson, 2011). However, knowledge of mechanisms and protective factors that impact African immigrant self-esteem to inform intervention efforts remains sparse. This study explores the effects of acculturation, including identification with heritage culture and identification with mainstream American culture, on self-esteem among African immigrants.

Method:
A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a sample of first- and second-generation African immigrants in the U.S (N =600). About 49.9% identified as first-generation immigrants, 71% female, 81.6% Black, 50% had a bachelor’s degree or more, 51% had household income below $45,000, with an average age of 31.6, SD=13.7. The dependent variable, self-esteem, was measured using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. The independent variable was measured using the Vancouver Index of Acculturation (VIA), which contains a sub-scale measuring identification with heritage culture and a sub-scale measuring identification with mainstream (American) culture. Both scales demonstrated excellent reliability in our sample (Cronbach’s alpha > .75). OLS regression was used to examine the effect of both identification with heritage culture and identification with mainstream American culture on self-esteem. Separate regressions were run for first- and second-generation immigrants. The models also assessed for the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), material deprivation, and discrimination amongst other sociodemographic controls.

Results:
T-tests revealed a small, but statistically significant, difference between first- and second-generation immigrants in level of identification with heritage culture and no observable difference in identification with mainstream American culture. In the OLS regression models for both groups, higher identification with heritage culture predicted higher self-esteem (p